as in beginnings
the point at which something begins
money is not the alpha and omega—the beginning and end—of life's purpose
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Recent Examples of alphas
In the past few years, Underwood has come to realize that a bunch of barking alphas may not, in fact, be the best way to build a successful pack.
—
Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
As a ballplayer, Kent was as irascible as Bonds; the two alphas reportedly brawled behind clubhouse doors, and famously clashed in the dugout during a 2002 game, when Bonds lunged for Kent’s throat and pushed him against the wall.
—Jeremy Collins, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2025
Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
As a ballplayer, Kent was as irascible as Bonds; the two alphas reportedly brawled behind clubhouse doors, and famously clashed in the dugout during a 2002 game, when Bonds lunged for Kent’s throat and pushed him against the wall.
—Jeremy Collins, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alphas
Noun
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Take Southwest Airlines, which trades under LUV a reference to its beginnings at Dallas Love Field Airport and the company’s famously playful culture.—
Robert Daugherty,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
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Happily, from such inauspicious beginnings, the end-of-season promotion deciders have evolved into a cherished, if rather anxiety-inducing, climax to the domestic season.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
23 May 2026
Noun
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Let Katie Holmes's latest outing convince you to make room in your closet for one more pair of sandals before the summer starts.—
Kaitlin Clapinski,
InStyle,
26 May 2026
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Bear in mind, too, that Burrows has pitched into the sixth inning during seven of his 10 starts.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
Noun
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By moving some commencements away from increasingly costly private sites, the financially ailing school district could have saved about half a million dollars a year.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Alphas.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alphas. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
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